Therapeutic device and method of constructing same



CU 24, 1944. w. ROSETT $361,242

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Filed A ril 10, 19424 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WHLTER Pusan- HTTORNEYS.

24, 1944. w RQSETT 11:11

THERAPEUTIC mavxcn AND METHOD OF conswnucwme SAME Filed April 10, 1942 4Sheets-Sheet z ll l W INVENTOR. WHLTEF? Passw- ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 24, 1944. w ROSETT 2,361,242

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Filed April 10, 19424 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

g/HATER R0557" 7" A T TOIRWEYS.

Oct. 24, 1944. W, RO TT 2,262,242

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Filed April 10, 19424 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Wm. T'EF'i' H0557"? WWW 2% ATTURNEYE.

Patented Oct. 24, 1944 THERAPEUTIC DEVICE CON STRUCTI AND METHOD OF NGSAME Walter Rosett, Forest Hills, N. Y., asslgnor of one-third toBlanche B. Rosett, New York,

N. Y., and one-third to Orleans, La.

Arthur Rosett, New

Application April 10, 1942, Serial No. 438,381

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in therapeutic devices and methodof constructing same, and has for a principal object the provision of atherapeutic device wherein the method of construction is simplified andadapted for mass production.

The invention is directed toward the construction of devices forrelieving, to a certain extent, the work of the human heart, where suchrelief is necessary, by propelling the veinous blood of the body surfacefrom the limbs and from the torso toward the heart; and also forincreasing the general nutrition of the body, in cases where this idesirable, by a systematic kneading of the tissues and consequentenhancement of circulation of the lymphatic fluids.

Primarily, the device comprises a pneumatic suit or garment adapted tobe applied to the limbs of the patient being treated. In its preferredform, the pneumatic suit or garment includes a fabric structure havingformed therein a serie of laterally disposed pockets, each of which isprovided with a fluid-tight flexible bag.

Connections are provided between a source of air pressure which isadmitted to said bags in such a, manner as to inflate the bags one afteranother in groups so as to cause the exertion of waves of pressure fromthe extremities of the limbs and from the lower portion of the torso ofthe patient toward the region of the heart. After each bag is inflated,it is immediately subjected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure toaccelerate the removal of the air therefrom and thereby to accentuatethe efiect.

It is convenient to utilize a compressor of the rotary type whichfurnishes both air under pressure and the subatmospheric pressures foroperating the garment. Suitable valve mechanism is provided forsupplying pressure to said bags in the order desired and at the ratedesired, and also for subjecting said bags to said sub-atmosphericpressures for rapidly deflating said bags.

In the form herein shown and described, a plurality of sections areprovided for surrounding the torso and the limbs of the patient. Forexample, there are preferably five such sections; two to embrace thearms of the patient; two to embrace the legs of the patient; and one toembrace the torso.

Since each section includes a plurality of infiatable bags, each ofwhich must be connected to the source of pressure (via saiddistributing, valve), for example by means of rubber tubes, the tubeswould be bulky and more or less unwieldy. However, in the preferred formherein vision in a therapeutic suit or shown and described, these tubesfor supplying air and vacuum to the bags, are enclosed in the body of amattress and are led out from the mattress to the various sectionsthrough tubular casings provided for the purpose. The mattress not onlyserves as a carrier for the tubes, but also serves as a support for theperson being treated. In other words, said person is reclining on themattress while being treated, and is therefore in a state of repose,which is therefore conducive to the best results.

Although any type of mattress is suitable for carrying out theinvention, it has been found prererable to utilize a pneumatic mattresswhich is enclosed in a fabric cover or casing. This is particularlyconvenient because the pneumatic mattress may be deflated and the wholedevice folded into a substantially small compass.

One object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic suit orgarment in combination with a mattress wherein the tubes communica ingwith the air bags in the suit are enclosed within the body of themattress.

A iurther obJect of the invention is the pro- VlSlOIl. 0! novel meansfor quickly adjusting the sections to the size of the body members orthe person being treated.

A iurtiier obJect of the invention is the prothe like, or limb or torsoembracing members provided with novel means tor quickly adiusting saidsections to fit tne body members of tne person being treated.

Other objects and advantages or the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon a perusal of the Iollowing description or theembodiment herein illustrated and described.

In the drawings Lrigure 1 is a plan of the device showing the torso andbody member embracing sections spread out flat. In this figure the armembracing members are turned with the exterior suriace uppermost to showdetails of the fastening device.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 wherein the embracing membershave been turned over in their normal positions, and positioned inrespect to a patient to facilitate the applying of the embracing membersto the body; I

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, wherein the embracing membersare adjusted to fit the arms, legs and torso of the patient;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of one Of the pockets formed in theembracing members, as seen along the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a, fragmentary view of one of the embracing members showingthe bag pockets formed therein, the bags mounted in said pockets, anddetails of connection between the supply tubes and the bags;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the arrangement shown in Figure 5, asseen from the left side thereof;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation, as seen along the lines 1-1 of Figure5;

Figure 8 is an end view of the torso embracing member, with the torsoomitted;

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation taken through the mattress lengthwise,showing the supply tubes and the take-offs therefrom for feeding thevarious embracing members;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing a conical reinforcing memberthrough which branch supply tubes may run; and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a rotary compressor forsupplying air under pressure and sub-atmospheric pressures to thedistributor valve and connections extending from the distributor valveand corresponding in number to the supply tubes embodied in said device.

Referring first to Figure 1, the device includes arm embracing members28 and 2|, leg embracing members 22 and 23, and a torso embracing member24. These members may be made of any flexible material, but fabric hasbeen found to be preferable because it lends itself easily to having aseries of pockets sewed in, as will presently be described, forcontaining the inflatable bags.

The inflatable bags which will presently be described in detail, may beformed of any desired flexible fluid-tight medium, or it is deemedpreferable to form these bags of rubber.

The embracing members may include any desired number of bags. However,for the sake of simplicity, there is herein shown six rubber bags ineach embracing member. These bags are numbered from 1 to 6 in eachembracing member, number 1 in each instance being at the point mostremote from the heart.

The arm embracing members and 2|, in Figure 1, are reversed so that themeans for securing the same to the patients body member may be seen.This consists of a series of hooks spaced apart from one ewe of theembracing member, and a series of eyelets spaced from the opposite edgeof the embracing member through which a lace 26 extends. This formsloops 21 which may be placed in engagement with the hooks 25 when theembracing member is placed around a body member. After engaging theloops 21 with the hooks 25, the ends of the lace 26 may be pulled totake up the slack and thereby a good fit on the body member is veryquickly obtained, following which the ends of the lace may be tied tomaintain the embracing member on the body member.

It will be noted that the pockets formed in the body embracing membersextend laterally. In addition to these lateral pockets, each embracingmember has a longitudinal pocket designated by the numeral 23 in themember 23, a pocket 29 in the member 2|, a pocket 30 in the member 22, apocket 3| in the member 23, and a pocket 32 in the member 2'4. Thesepockets are provided to enable the bags to be inserted in the horizontalpockets, to contain the tube connections of the bags, and to contain thefeeder tubes through which air may enter or leave the bags.

These feeder tubes, where they leave the embracing members, are providedwith tubular covers which embrace the feeder tubes; for example, thefeeder tubes for the embracing member 20 are enclosed in a tubularmember 33, one end of the tubular member being joined to the embracingmember, and the other end being connected to the cover 34 of themattress 35 where the feeder tubes enter said mattress.

The feeder tubes for the embracing member 2| are embraced by a tubularmember 36, one end of which is connected to the embracing member 2|, andthe other end of which is connected to the cover 34 of the mattress.

The feeder tubes for the embracing member 22 are enclosed by a tubularmember 31, one end of which is secured to the embracing member 22, andthe other to the cover 34.

The feeder tubes for the embracing member 23 are likewise embraced by atubular member 38, one end of which is connected to the embracing member23, and the other to the mattress.

The feeder tubes for the torso embracing member 24 are also embraced bya tubular member 33, one end of which is secured to the embracin member24 and the mattress cover 34.

The feeder tubes above referred to are in fact branches of main feedertubes 40 which are coneealed within the body of the mattress 35. Thesemain feeder tubes include branches which feed off to the feeder tubesabove described. For example, the main feeder tube 1 is provided with anX fitting 4|, to which branch feeder tube 1 for the number 1 bags in theembracing members 23 and 2| are secured.

Also secured to this fitting is an extension 42 of main feeder tube 1.This extension includes a T fitting 43 to which the feeder tube for thenumber 1 bag in the torso embracing member 24 is attached. Also attachedto the T fitting is a further extension 44 of the main feeder tube whichextends to a point near the bottom end of the mattress and terminates ina T fitting 45. The T fitting 45 is connected to number 1 branch feedertubes which supply air to the number 1 bags in the leg embracing members22 and 23.

The arrangement just described is repeated for each of the remainingfive main feeder tubes and need not here be explained in detail,especially in view of the fact that the X and T fittings are clearlyshown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

As stated above, the mattress may be of any desired material; however,it is preferable to have a pneumatic mattress provided with a fabriccover, both from the standpoint of weight and portability and from theangle of the patients comfort.

The mattress 35 may be provided with a reinforcing grommet 48 throughwhich the main feeder tubes 44 enter the mattress.

Referring now to Figure 5, which shows a fragmentary view of the armembracing member 24, showing details of construction, the embracingmember formed of a fold of fabric forming walls 41 and 43. The edges of41 may be turned over the wall 44, for example to form a hem 49, whichhem may be double stitched, as shown. The edge 53 may be stitched asshown to reinforce the same. and the bottom edge of the embracing member23 may be finished off like the top edge with a hem similar to the hem43.

Spaced apart from the hem 49 is a row of double stitching 4|, formingtherebetween a pocket into which an inflatable rubber bag 52 may beinserted. This is marked bag number 6,

as it is bag 6 with reference to the branch feeder tubes.

Spaced apart from the double row of stitching is a second double row ofstitching 53, forming therebetween a pocket which is adapted to containbag 5.

Spaced apart from the stitching. 53 is a double row of stitching 64,forming therebetween a pocket for containing the inflatable bag 4.

By this construction any desired number of pockets may be formed in theembracing member very easily, as compared to devices of the prior art,in view of the fact that it is not necessary to have the stitchingfluid-tight because the air is entirely confined to the inflatable bags1 to 6 (where six are used) Referring to Figure 4, a strip 55 is doublestitched to the bottom wall 41 to form a hem designated by the numeral56. This strip, together with the portion of the wall 41 therebelow,forms a. chamber 32 above referred to, through which inflatable bags maybe inserted in the pockets formed in the embracing member and alsoadapted to contain the branch feeder tubes 1 to 6.

The tubular member 39, above referred to as having one end secured tothe embracing memher 20,. is stitched to the embracing member alongseams 51 and 58. The other end of the tubular member 39 is secured to areinforcing grommet 59, which is in turn secured to the cover 34 of themattress by means of a double row of stitching 6|]. This reinforcinggrommet protects the cover against any undue strains tending to tear thesame as the members are moved around.

Figure 6 shows the walls 41 and 48 of the embracing member distendedwhen the bag 52 is inflated.

Figure '7 is similar to Figure 6, except that it, shows a sectionalelevation of the device when the end bag is inflated and the other bagsare being deflated.

Referring to Figure 8, the torso embracing member 24 is shown as itwould be adjusted to a torso of a given size. The hooks 25 are shown asengaged by the loops 21 of the lace 26. Also the wall which includes thepocket 32 is shown with the branch feeder tubes extending therein, thetubular member 39 being cut away to show said tubes.

Referring now to Figure 9, the mattress 35 is shown as a pneumaticmattress having a plurality of holes or tuft BI, 62 and 63 formedtherein. These holes or tufts are normally formed in the mattress to letair pass therethrough. However, in the present arrangement at least someof these holes or tuftsare utilized to allow the feeder tubes to passthrough the mattress. These feeder tubes enter the mattress at one endthrough the grommet 46, previously described, and branch off at varioupoints with branch feeder tubes, for example the feeder tubes passingupwardly through the vent 63 extending into the tubular member 33 andlead into the pocket 28 of the embracing member 20 for controlling theair bags carried in the embracing member 20. Likewise, branch feedertubes passing through the opening 62 in the mattress extend into thesleeve 39 and thence into the pocket 32 for feeding the bags in thetorso embracing member 24.

Other branch feeder tubes extend through the opening 6| in the mattress,thence into the sleeve member 31 and into the pocket 30 to control theair bags in the leg embracing member 22. The

cover or ticking 34 on the mattress covers the main feeder tubes whichare preferably positioned below and in contact with the mattress 35.

Referring now to Figure 2, which shows the device ready to be applied tothe patient, it will be noted that the arm embracing members 20 and 2|have been turned over to the right and left respectively, so as to be inthe proper position to receive the patients arms. The torso embracingmember 24 and the leg embracing members 22 and 23 are shifted over intothe proper positions to receive the torso and the legs of the patient.

The patient is now placed on the mattress. The arm embracing members arethen folded around the arms, and the loops 2'! are placed in engagementwith the hooks 25, after which the ends of the laces 26 may be pulledendwise, thereby quickly adjusting the arm embracing members intointimate contact with the entire surfaces o the arms embraced.

Following this, the ends of the laces 26 are brought together and tiedinto a bow-knot 64. The tubular casing 33, enclosing the branch feedpipes, loops over the patients left shoulder and is,

therefore not in the way and uncomfortable.

Likewise, the tubular member 36 embracing the feeder pipes for the rightarm, of the arm embracing member 2|, loops over the patients rightshoulder.

Next, the leg embracing member 22 is applied to the patients left leg byengaging the loops 21 with the hooks 25 in the same manner, drawing theends of the lace 26 taut to cause the member to snugly embrace the leg,after which the lace is tied into a bowknot 64.

The tubular casing 3'! enclosing the feeder pipes for the embracingmember 22 loops upwardly over the patients ankle and is therefore out ofthe way and forms no impediment.

Next, th embracing member 23 is applied in the same manner to thepatients right leg. The tubular member 38 embracing the feeder pipes forthe embracing member 23 loops upwardly over the patients right ankle.

vThe torso embracing member 24 is next applied, utilizing the loops andthe hooks in the same mannerand tying the lace 26 into a bowknot 64, aswas done with the other members.

The tubular member 39 extends from the mattress cover 34, loopingupwardly to the torso embracing member between the patients left sideand the left arm.

Operation A rotary compressor 65, referring to Figure 11, has itsdischarge port connected by a pipe 66 to one end of a distributor valve61, and its suction port connected by a pipe 68 to the other end of thedistributor valve 61.

A motor 69 is connected in driving relation to the compressorby a cardinjoint 10. The motor 69 is also connected to the distributor valve shaftH through suitable gearing 12. The distributor valve has a plurality ofmain feeder pipes 13.

6 to correspond 40 (Figure 1) which are Positioned on the distributorvalve rotor, so as to follow the pressure port above described, is asuctional vacuum port which spans a plurality of said termini ports,with the result that each bag after it has been inflated is immediatelydeflated. Now, since the bags are successively inflated and deflated, aseries of waves of pressure are exerted in the flesh of the patient, andthe motion of these waves is from th extremities of the limbs and fromthe lower portion of the torso toward th region of the heart.

Referring to Figure 3, bags number 1 on both of the legs of the patient,both of the arms of the patient, and on the torso of the patient, areinflated simultaneously. Immediately afterwards, all number 2 bags inthe arms, legs and torso sections are inflated and all of the number 1bags in these sections are subjected to the suction pressure of the pumpand rapidly deflated. Next, the number 3 bags in the various sectionsare inflated and the number 2 bags are rapidly deflated.

This continues throughout the sections, and finally after the number 6bags are inflated, the number 1 bags are again inflated and the number 6bags are deflated; and the process is repeated.

As these inflating and deflating actions occur much more rapidly thancan be described, waves of pressure are actually exerted in the bodymembers embraced by the embracing members.

The distributor valve may be driven at any desired speed, depending uponthe rate at which it is desired to apply the waves of pressure. Forexample, the rotor of the valve may be driven at a rate of from 15 to 20revolutions per minute.

When the patient has been treated for the desired length of time, thebowknots 64 may be untied, thereby releasing the tension of the loops21, thus permitting the loops to be quickly disengaged from the hooks25, so that the embracing members may be spread out flat, as shown inFigure 2, thereby releasing the patient.

While only six bags are shown and described in each embracing member, itis obvious that any other desired number of bags may be employed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it will be noted that the rubber bag 52 isconstructed of an upper sheet of rubber l4 and a lower sheet 15vulcanized together along the line 16 and reinforced by a rubber strip11.

A tubular portion 18 is vulcanized to the bag at one end, and thistubular portion carries a, metallic elbow 19. Th bags may be made indifferent lengths, in accordance with the lengths of the pockets whichthey occupy in the various embracing members 20 to 24.

It will be obvious that the fabric pockets containing the inflatablebags limit or define the maximum distention of the bags when they areinflated.

Although the mattress 35 is herein shown and described as a pneumaticmattress, it is obvious that the feeder pipes may be enclosed in anyother type of mattress.

The embodiment of the device herein shown and described is a preferredform of the invention,

. but it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangementsherein shown and described without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in the following claims,

What is claimed is: 1. In a therapeutic device, the combination of afabric member having a plurality of parallel pockets formed therein, theopen ends of which terminate in another pocket angular therewith, aninflatable bag in each of said flrst pockets,

a feeder tube secured to each of said bags, all

of said feeder tubes being disposed in said secondmentioned pocket, anda tubular member embracing said feeder tubes where they leave saidsecond-mentioned pocket, said tubular member being secured to saidfabric member.

2. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a fabric member having aplurality of parallel pockets formed therein, the open ends of whichterminate in another pocket angular therewith, an inflatable bag in eachof said first pockets, said bags being formed of rubber or the like, anangular elbow secured to each of said bags, a feeder tube secured toeach of said elbows, all of said feeder tubes being disposed in saidsecondmentioned pocket, and a tubular member embracing said feeder tubeswhere they leave said second-mentioned pocket, said tubular member beingsecured to said fabric member.

3. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a fabric member having aplurality of pockets sewn therein, said member being adapted to beplaced in embracing relation with at least a portion of the human body,inflatable bags in each of said pockets, fastening means on said memberfor securing the latter in said embracing relation, a mattress forming asupport for said body, said mattress having a fabric casing thereon,feeder tubes extending via said mattress from one edge thereof to saidbags, said tubes within the body of the mattress lying between itsunder-surface and its fabric cover, and means connected to said feedertubes for inflating and deflating said bags successively to exert aseries of waves of pressure in an embraced portion of said body.

4. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a plurality of flexiblemembers each having a plurality of pockets formed therein and adapted tobe placed in embracing relation with portions of the human body,inflatable bags in each of said pockets, fastening means carried on eachof said members for securing them in said embracing relations, amattress to support said patient, means connecting said members to saidmattress, a plurality of feeder tubes connected to said bags andextending into the body of said mattress via said last-mentioned means,extensions on said feeder tubes extending through one wall of saidmattress, and means connected to said extensions for inflating anddeflating said bags successively for exerting in the embraced portionsof said body a series of waves of pressure.

5. The invention according to claim 4, in which said mattress iscomprised of a pneumatic core having a plurality of openings extendingtherethrough, said core being covered by a fabric casing, and saidfeeder tubes extending from the bottom of said core via said openings tosaid flexible members.

6. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a plurality of flexiblemembers each having a plurality of pockets formed therein, said memberscomprising a torso embracing member and limb embracing members adaptedto be placed in embracing relations with a patients torso and limbs,

inflatable bags and extending into the body of said mattress via saidlast-mentioned means, extensions of said feeder tubes extending throughone wall of said casing, and means connected to said extensions forinflating and deflating the bags in said members successively and indefinite time relation with each other for exerting in the embracedtorso and limbs series of waves of pressure tending to accelerate thecirculation of veinous blood therein towards the heart.

7. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a plurality of flexiblemembers each having a plurality of pockets formed therein, said memberscomprising a torso embracing member, limb embracing members adapted tobe placed in embracing relations with a patients torso and limbs,inflatable bags in each of said pockets, each of said bags having afeeder tube secured thereto, a mattress having a fabric cover, fabrictubular members connecting said flexible members to said casing, saidfeeder tubes passing through said tubular members and into the body ofsaid mat-. tress and extending through the body of said mattress to oneside wall thereof, fastening means carried by said members for securingthe latter in said embracing relations with said torso and said limbs,and means connected to said feeder tubes and adapted to inflate anddeflate said bags in said members, the periods of inflation and deflat'ion being timed to exert in the embraced torso and limbs series ofwaves of pressure tending to systematically knead the tissues andthereby enhance the circulation of the lymphatic fluids therein.

8. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a mattress having a fabriccover, a plurality of feeder tubes extending from one side of saidmattress along the bottom thereof Within said casing, a plurality offabric members each having a plurality of parallel pockets formedtherein, said members comprising a torso embracing member and limbembracing members adapted to be placed in embracing relation witha'patients torso and limbs, inflatable bags in each of said pockets,each of said bags having a branch feeder tube connected thereto, saidbranch feeder tubes extending into said mattress and being connected tosaid feeder tubes, fastening means carried on said members for securingthem in said embracing relations with said torso and said limbs, and

, means connected to said feeder tubes and adapted to inflate anddeflate said bags in said members,

the periods of inflation and deflation being timed to exert in theembraced torso and limbs series of waves of pressure tending tosystematically kneadthe tissues and stimulate the circulation of veinousblood toward the heat.

9. In a therapeutic device, in combination, a mattress having a fabriccover, a plurality of feeder tubes extending from one side of saidmattress along the bottom thereof within said casing, a plurality offabric members each having a plurality of parallel pockets formedtherein, said members comprising a torso embracing member and arm andleg embracing members adapted to be placed in embracing relations with apatients torso and arms and legs, inflatable bags in each of saidpockets, each of said bags having a branch feeder tube connectedthereto, said branch feeder tubes extending into said mattress at pointsnormally above the patients right shoulder from the right arm embracingmember, above the patients left shoulder from the left arm embracingmember, near the calf of the patients right leg from the right legembracing member, near the calf of the patients left leg from the leftleg embracing member, and between the patients left side and left armfrom the torso embracing member, and being connected to said feedertubes, fastening means mounted on said members for securing them in saidembracing relations with said torso and said arms and legs, and meansconnected to said feeder tubes and adapted to inflate and deflate saidbags in said members, the periods of inflation and deflation being timedto exert in the embraced torso and arms and legs series of waves ofpressure tending to systematically knead the tissues and stimulate thecirculation of veinous blood toward the heart.

10. The invention according to claim 8, in which said one side of saidmattress is provided with a flanged reinforcing member through whichsaid feeder tubes extend to a point outside of the mattress.

11. The invention according to claim 9, in which the mattress is formedof an inflatable rubber core having a plurality of transverse openingsformed therein through which said branch feeder tubes leading from saidembracing members pass from the top of the mattress to the bottom there-0 WALTER ROSE'I'I'.

